Method and device for adjusting and controlling packing force

ABSTRACT

A seeding apparatus having a furrow opener attached to a first trailing arm, sensor for sensing the amount of ground force to which the furrow opener is being subjected, a second trailing arm, a packing wheel in secure engagement with the second trailing arm and adapted to pack a seeded furrow, an actuator and a control device in communication with the actuator and in communication with the sensor for applying a variable bias force to the packing wheel.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application SerialNo. 2,594,032 filed on Jul. 18, 2007, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agricultural implements and morespecifically relates to seeding, fertilizing, and chemical applicationdevices and methods for using same.

BACKGROUND

Devices for seeding, fertilizing and for applying chemicals such asherbicides, fungicides and pesticides in an agricultural field (whichdevice or devices are hereinafter collectively referred to as a “seeder”or “seeders”) may include seeders such as the apparatus described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,159,523 B2 to Bourgault and Cresswell, which provides aframe which may be drawn by a tractor unit by way of a draw hitch, atrailing arm pivotally connected at the front end thereof to the frame,and a packer wheel rotatably attached to the rear end thereof, a furrowopener for creating a furrow attached to the trailing arm ahead of aseed boot (the seed boot being attached to a source of seed or chemical,through which seed boot the seed or other chemical may pass forinsertion into the furrow created by the furrow opener), the packerwheel rolling along behind the furrow opener and seed boot, firmlypacking the seeded furrow.

To ensure effective and consistent germination of the seeds planted inthe furrows, and to securely position within the furrow any chemicalproduct which has been applied during the seeding process, it isdesirable to provide adequate, but not excessive, and adjustabledownward force on the packing wheel. Furthermore, to ensure that theseeds and/or chemical products are inserted into the ground at adesirable and consistent depth in the ground, it is desirable tomaintain the furrow opener at a constant and predetermined depth.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide adequate,but not excessive, and adjustable downward force on the packing wheel ofa seeder.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide aseeder in which the furrow opener may be maintained at a constant andpredetermined depth.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aseeding apparatus adapted for being drawn across the ground of anagricultural field by a tractor, comprising, at least one frame adaptedfor engagement with the tractor, at least one seeding unit comprising, afirst trailing arm having a proximal end and a distal end, means forsecurely engaging the proximal end of the first trailing arm with theframe, a furrow opener, means for securely engaging the furrow openerwith the first trailing arm proximate the distal end of the firsttrailing arm, means for sensing the amount of ground force to which thefurrow opener is being subjected, means for placing seed in the openedfurrow, a second trailing arm having a proximal end and a distal end,means for securely and pivotally engaging the proximal end of the secondtrailing arm with the frame, a packing wheel in secure engagement withthe second trailing arm proximate the distal end of the second trailingarm and adapted to pack the seeded furrow, means for variably biasingthe packing wheel toward the ground in communication with the means forsensing the amount of ground force to which the furrow opener is beingsubjected, and means for engaging the at least one seeding unit with theat least one frame, wherein information relating to the amount of groundforce to which the furrow opener is being subjected is supplied by thesensor to the means for variably biasing the packing wheel toward theground to control the amount of bias applied to the packing wheel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda seeding apparatus adapted for being drawn across the ground of anagricultural field by a tractor, comprising, at least one frame adaptedfor engagement with the tractor, at least one seeding unit comprising, afirst trailing arm having a proximal end and a distal end, means forpivotally engaging the proximal end of the first trailing arm with theframe, a furrow opener, means for securely engaging the furrow openerwith the first trailing arm proximate the distal end of the firsttrailing arm, means for biasing the furrow opener into the ground, meansfor sensing the amount of ground force to which the furrow opener isbeing subjected, means for placing seed in the opened furrow, a secondtrailing arm having a proximal end and a distal end, means for securelyengaging the proximal end of the second trailing arm with the firsttrailing arm, a packing wheel in secure engagement with the secondtrailing arm proximate the distal end of the second trailing arm andadapted to pack the seeded furrow, means for variably biasing thepacking wheel toward the ground in communication with the means forsensing the amount of ground force to which the furrow opener is beingsubjected, and means for engaging the at least one seeding unit with theat least one frame, wherein information relating to the amount of groundforce to which the furrow opener is being subjected is supplied by thesensor to the means for variably biasing the trailing arms toward theground to control the amount of bias applied to the packing wheel.

One advantage of the present invention is that it provides adequate, butnot excessive, and adjustable downward force on the packing wheel of aseeder.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides aseeder in which the furrow opener may be maintained at a constant andpredetermined depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG.1, a tractor 6, by means of a draw hitch 5, pulls the seeder 1 acrossthe ground 3 of the agricultural field, the seeder 1 having a frame 2which may be pivotally connected (at 20) to the draw hitch 5 (it beingunderstood that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, anon-pivotable connection may be provided between the frame 2 and thedraw hitch 5), which frame 2 is supported by one or more wheels 4 whichroll along the ground 3 in front of multiple sets of independent seedingunits as more fully described herein.

As more fully described herein, in this first embodiment of the presentinvention, each independent seeding unit is operatively attached to theframe 2 (it being understood that in an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention, each independent seeding unit is operatively attachedto a trippable release device (not shown) which is attached to theframe, the trippable release device being adapted to allow theindependent seeding unit to pivot relative to the frame in the eventthat the independent seeding unit comes into contact with a large rockor other obstacle) and has a furrow opener 8, seed boot 9 and packerwheel 10. The height of the seeder frame 2 is adjustable relative to theseeder's wheels 4, in a manner known to a person skilled in the art, tovary the depth of the furrow opener 8 in the ground (and as a result, tovary the depth 19 of the furrow being cut by the furrow opener 8).

In this embodiment of the present invention, the furrow opener 8 andseed boot 9 in each independent seeding unit is securely attached to theframe 2 (or alternatively, as described above, a trippable releasedevice) by a non-pivoting first trailing arm 7 so that as the frameheight is lowered relative to the ground (by lowering the height of theframe 2 relative to the wheels 4), the furrow opener 8 is positioneddeeper into the ground and cuts a deeper furrow, whereas when the frameheight is raised relative to the ground (by raising the height of theframe 2 relative to the wheels 4), the furrow opener 8 accordingly cutsa shallower furrow. In this embodiment, the packer wheel 10 for eachindependent seeding unit is attached to a pivotable (at 17A) secondtrailing arm 17, a downward force being applied to the pivotable secondtrailing arm 17 and to the packer wheel 10 by means of a hydrauliccylinder 11 pivotably connected at one end thereof (at 21) to the frame2 and at the other end thereof (at 22) to the second trailing arm 17,the hydraulic fluid of which hydraulic cylinder 11 is, by means of anadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 and programmable control device 13 incommunication therewith (15A), generally maintained at a constantpressure (unless varied, as more fully described herein), to generallyprovide a constant downwardly directed biasing force on the secondtrailing arm 17 and packer wheel 10 (unless varied, as more fullydescribed herein).

In one variation of this first embodiment of the present invention, aground force sensor 12 such as a strain gauge (or such other device aswould be known to person skilled in the art which is adapted to detectand measure changes in the forces being applied to the first trailingarm 7), is operatively attached to the first trailing arm 7, the sensor12 producing a signal corresponding or relating to the ground force 18currently being exerted on the furrow opener 8, the signal beingelectronically, pneumatically, hydraulically or otherwise communicatedby a wire 15 (or as appropriate, hydraulic or other line) to theprogrammable control device 13 and adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14,which programmable control device 13 and adjustable hydraulic fluid pump14, may, for example, upon receipt of a signal from the sensor 12consequently, by means of the hydraulic line 16, alter the hydraulicfluid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 11. In operation, for example,as relatively more densely packed ground (such as dry clay) is beingseeded, relatively more ground force is exerted on the furrow opener 9and first trailing arm 7 and upon the sensor 12 detecting a relativelyincreased ground force on the first trailing arm 7 the programmablecontrol device 13 and adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14, may, inresponse thereto, increase the hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydrauliccylinder 11, to thereby increase the packing force on the secondtrailing arm 17 and the packing wheel 10. Similarly, as relatively lessdensely packed ground (such as wet sandy loam soil) is being seeded,relatively less ground force is exerted on the furrow opener 9, and theprogrammable control device 13 and adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14,upon the sensor 12 detecting a relatively decreased ground force may inresponse thereto, decrease the hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydrauliccylinder 11, to thereby decrease the packing force on the secondtrailing arm 17 and the packing wheel 10.

The variation of the first embodiment as described in the foregoing,provides for increased packing force in response to increased soilforces. Other desirable responses to changes in ground force areanticipated. In certain soil conditions it will be desirable for packingforce to be reduced as ground force increases, and increased as groundforce decreases. This would be the case in field conditions such as wetclay soil where it is desirable to avoid over-packing and in dry sandysoil, where although ground forces are low, firmly packed soil isdesired to enhance capillary action of the soil and bring seed intocontact with moist soil. In the seeder of the present invention, a widerange of such alternate control schemes may be programmed into theprogrammable controller to vary the packing force as is desired inresponse to changes in ground force.

In a further variation of the first embodiment of the present invention,multiple packer wheels may be securely mounted directly (or by way of asub-frame (not shown) in a manner known to a person skilled in the art),proximate the distal end of a single second trailing arm 17 to form agang of packer wheels, which packer wheels are positioned so that eachseeded furrow is packed by a single packer wheel, a hydraulic cylinderacting on the single second trailing arm providing downwardly directedbiasing force on the single second trailing arm 17 and each of thepacker wheels attached directly (or indirectly, by way of a sub-frame)thereto. Control for the biasing force being applied to the singlesecond trailing arm 17 is by way of a ground force sensor 12 such as astrain gauge (or such other device as would be known to person skilledin the art which is adapted to detect and measure changes in the forcesbeing applied to the first trailing arm 7), operatively attached to afirst trailing arm 7, the sensor 12 producing a signal corresponding orrelating to the ground force 18 currently being exerted on the furrowopener 8, the signal being electronically, pneumatically, hydraulicallyor otherwise communicated by a wire 15 (or as appropriate, hydraulic orother line) to the programmable control device 13 and adjustablehydraulic fluid pump 14, which programmable control device 13 andadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14, may, for example, upon receipt of asignal from the sensor 12 consequently, by means of the hydraulic line16, alter the hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 11.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG.2, a tractor 6, by means of a draw hitch 5, pulls the seeder 101 acrossthe ground 3 of the agricultural field, the seeder having a frame whichmay be pivotally connected (at 20) to the draw hitch 5 (it beingunderstood that in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, anon-pivotable connection may be provided between the frame 2 and thedraw hitch 5), which frame 2 is supported by one or more wheels 4 infront of multiple sets of independent seeding units as more fullydescribed herein. In this embodiment of the present invention, eachindependent seeding unit is operatively attached to the frame 2 (itbeing understood that in an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, each independent seeding unit is operatively attached to atrippable release device (not shown) which is attached to the frame, thetrippable release device being adapted to allow the independent seedingunit to pivot relative to the frame in the event that the independentseeding unit comes into contact with a large rock or other obstacle) andhas a furrow opener 8, seed boot 9 and packer wheel 10.

In this second embodiment of the present invention, in respect of eachindependent seeding unit, the furrow opener 8 and seed boot 9 isattached to the frame 2 by a pivoting first trailing arm 97, a constantdownward biasing force being applied (unless varied, as more fullydescribed herein) to the first trailing arm 97 and non-pivoting secondtrailing arm 99 (and to the packer wheel 10 attached thereto) by meansof a hydraulic cylinder 11 pivotally connected on one end (at 95) to theframe and on the other end (at 93), to the first trailing arm 97, thehydraulic fluid of which hydraulic cylinder 11 is, by means of theadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 and programmable control device 13 incommunication therewith (15A), maintained at a constant pressure (unlessvaried as more fully described herein) to provide a constant downwardlydirected biasing force (unless varied as more fully described herein) onthe first trailing arm 97, the non-pivoting second trailing arm 99 andthe packer wheel 10.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the height of the packerwheel 10 relative to the height of the furrow opener 9 determines thedepth of the furrow opener 9 in the ground (the position of the packerwheel may be adjusted upwardly relative to the furrow opener to providea deeper furrow and downwardly relative to the furrow opener to providea shallower furrow). The effect of the downwardly directed biasing forceis to keep the furrow opener in the ground at all times and to keep thepacker wheel 10 in rolling engagement with the ground. As the forceapplied by the hydraulic cylinder 11 is partially offset by the upwardground force and rearward ground force 18 on the furrow opener 8, andpartially offset by the force required to keep the packer wheel 10positioned in rolling engagement on the ground, and as the ground forcevaries with varying types of ground types and conditions in the field,in order to maintain the packer wheel 10 in constant contact with theground 3 and exerting a desirable amount of downward packing force onthe seeded furrow, it is therefore advantageous to provide the abilityto vary the downwardly directed biasing force supplied by the hydrauliccylinder 11 to maintain the desired amount of downward packing force ofthe packing wheel on the seeded furrow. To provide this capability, thisembodiment also provides a ground force sensor 12 such as a strain gauge(or such other device as would be known to person skilled in the artwhich is adapted to detect and measure changes in the forces beingapplied to the first trailing arm 97), operatively attached to the firsttrailing arm 97, the sensor 12 producing a signal corresponding to theground force currently being exerted on the furrow opener 8, the signalbeing electronically, pneumatically, hydraulically or otherwisecommunicated by a wire 15 (or as appropriate, hydraulic or other line)to the programmable control device 13 and adjustable hydraulic fluidpump 14, which programmable control device 13 and adjustable hydraulicfluid pump 14, may, for example, consequently alter the hydraulic fluidpressure in the hydraulic cylinder 11 to provide the desired packingforce on the packing wheel. In this embodiment of the invention, thehydraulic cylinder 11 as controlled by the programmable control device13 and adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 may provide a constant biasingforce in the direction of extension and, may receive additionalhydraulic pressure from the adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 toincrease the downward force on the packing wheel 10, or may receivereduced hydraulic pressure from the adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14to decrease the downward force on the packing wheel 10, as necessary ordesired.

The programmable control device 13 may be programmed so that regardlessof the input from the sensor, hydraulic fluid is supplied to thehydraulic cylinder under constant pressure.

In this second embodiment, when the sensor is communicating to theprogrammable control device 13 no change of ground force on the firsttrailing arm (or alternatively, when the sensor is communicating thatthe change of ground force is within a predetermined range), theprogrammable control device 13 does not alter or adjust the pressure ofthe hydraulic fluid being supplied by the adjustable hydraulic fluidpump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder. When the sensor communicates thatthere is a reduction in ground force (or alternatively, when the sensoris communicating that the reduction in ground force is beyond apredetermined range), the programmable control device 13 reduces thepressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied by the adjustablehydraulic fluid pump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder. When the sensorcommunicates that there is an increase in the ground force (oralternatively, when the sensor is communicating that the increase inground force is beyond a predetermined range), the programmable controldevice 13 increases the pressure of the hydraulic fluid being suppliedby the adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder. Inthis way, packing force may be maintained constant as soil forceschange.

Alternatively, the programmable control device 13 may be programmed andoperative to increase packing force as ground forces increase and todecrease packing force as ground forces decrease, as may be desired tosuit certain soil conditions.

To suit other soil conditions, the programmable control device 13 mayprogrammed and operative to reduce packing force as ground forcesincrease and to increase packing force as ground forces decrease. Thuswhen the sensor is communicating no change of ground force on the firsttrailing arm (or alternatively, when the sensor is communicating thatthe change of ground force is within the predetermined range), theprogrammable control device 13 does not alter or adjust the pressure ofthe hydraulic fluid being supplied by the adjustable hydraulic fluidpump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder. When the sensor communicates thatthere is a reduction in ground force (or alternatively, when the sensoris communicating that the reduction in ground force is beyond apredetermined range), the programmable control device increases thepressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied by the adjustablehydraulic fluid pump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder, and when the sensorcommunicates that there is an increase in the ground force (oralternatively, when the sensor is communicating that the increase inground force is beyond a predetermined range), the programmable controldevice decreases the pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied bythe adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, the programmable controldevice is also adapted to receive an input signal from the tractoroperator who may provide an input signal to the programmable controldevice in a manner known to a person skilled in the art to overrideother or contrary input signals received by the programmable controldevice and to adjust or control in any desirable manner the adjustedlevel of the pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied by theadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 to the hydraulic cylinder, andthereby control the packing force accordingly.

While the present invention has been described above with reference toindependent seeding units, it is understood that multiple independentseeding units are generally to be attached to one or more frames beingdrawn by a tractor. In this context, it is understood that eachindependent seeding unit may be fitted with its own sensor andindependently hydraulically controlled, or alternatively, more than oneindependent seeding unit may be controlled by a single sensoroperatively attached to one of the independent seeding units, the sensorinformation signal from which is used to control more than one of theindependent seeding units. For example, where multiple frames are beingutilized, one sensor on one of the independent seeding units on a framemay provide control information to an adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14to supply each of the multiple hydraulic cylinders on the multipleindependent seeding units on that frame, and another sensor on one ofthe independent seeding units on another frame may provide controlinformation to the adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 to supply each ofthe multiple hydraulic cylinders on the multiple independent seedingunits on that other frame. Alternatively, one sensor on one of theindependent seeding units may provide control information to anadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 to supply each of the multiplehydraulic cylinders on the multiple independent seeding units on all ofthe multiple frames.

Furthermore, while the present invention has been described withreference to the sensor being positioned on the first trailing arm, itis understood that alternative methods may be utilized to determine theground force being applied to the furrow openers, which sensorinformation may be transmitted to the programmable control device andadjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 in a known manner.

It is also understood that while the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to hydraulic components and a hydraulicsystem (the adjustable hydraulic fluid pump 14 hydraulically coupledwith the hydraulic cylinder), in an analogous manner, and withapplicable relevant modifications, pneumatic, electrical and mechanicalcomponents and systems known to a person skilled in the art mayalternatively be substituted for the hydraulic components and hydraulicsystem.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to certainembodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the artthat a number of variations and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as described herein.

1. A control system for a seeding apparatus comprising: a first furrowopener for opening a first furrow; a first packer wheel; an actuator; aground force sensor; and a control device; wherein the ground forcesensor is operative to produce a ground force sensor signal independence upon a ground force acting on the first furrow opener, theground force being dependent upon the soil condition of the ground,wherein the control device is operative to receive the ground forcesensor signal and is operative to receive an input from an operator, andwherein the control device, in dependence upon one of at least theground force sensor signal and the input from the operator, changes abias force that the actuator applies to the first packer wheel such thata packing force exerted by the first packer wheel onto the ground ischanged in dependence upon a change in the soil condition of the ground.2. A control system for a seeding apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein the first furrow opener is operatively mounted to a firsttrailing arm, the first packer wheel is operatively mounted to a secondtrailing arm and wherein the actuator is operatively connected to thesecond trailing arm.
 3. A control system for a seeding apparatus asdefined in claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a strain gageoperatively connected to the first trailing arm.
 4. A control system fora seeding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first furrowopener is mounted to a first trailing arm and the first packer wheel ismounted to a second trailing arm, the second trailing arm being rigidlyconnected to the first trailing arm, and wherein the actuator isconnected to at least one of the first and second trailing arms suchthat the bias force simultaneously acts on the first packer wheel andthe first furrow opener.
 5. A control system for a seeding apparatus asdefined in claim 4 wherein the sensor comprises a strain gageoperatively connected to the first trailing arm.
 6. A control system asdefined in claim 1 further comprising: a second furrow opener foropening a second furrow parallel to the first furrow; and a secondpacker wheel; wherein the second furrow opener and the second packerwheel are operatively connected in parallel alignment with the firstfurrow opener and the first packer wheel to form a gang of furrowopeners and packer wheels, the actuator also being operatively connectedto the second packer wheel to provide a bias force to both the first andsecond packer wheels.
 7. A control system for a seeding apparatuscomprising: a first furrow opener for opening a first furrow; a firstpacker wheel; an actuator adapted to apply a bias force; a ground forcesensor; and a control device; wherein the ground force sensor isoperative to produce a ground force sensor signal in dependence upon aground force acting on the first furrow opener, the ground force beingdependent upon the soil condition of the ground, and wherein the controldevice is operative to receive the ground force sensor signal, determinea control signal in dependence upon the ground force sensor signal, andsend the control signal to the actuator to change the bias force to thepacker wheel such that a packing force exerted by the first packer wheelonto the ground is changed in dependence upon a change in the soilcondition of the ground.
 8. A control system for a seeding apparatus asdefined in claim 7 wherein the first furrow opener is mounted to a firsttrailing arm and the first packer wheel is mounted to a second trailingarm and wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the secondtrailing arm.
 9. A control system for a seeding apparatus as defined inclaim 8 wherein the sensor comprises a strain gage operatively connectedto the first trailing arm.
 10. A control system for a seeding apparatusas defined in claim 7 wherein the first furrow opener is mounted to afirst trailing arm and the first packer wheel is mounted to a secondtrailing arm, the second trailing arm being rigidly connected to thefirst trailing arm, and wherein the actuator is connected to at leastone of the first and second trailing arms such that the bias forcesimultaneously acts on the first packer wheel and the first furrowopener.
 11. A control system for a seeding apparatus as defined in claim10 wherein the sensor comprises a strain gage operatively connected tothe first trailing arm.
 12. A control system as defined in claim 7further comprising: a second furrow opener for opening a second furrowparallel to the first furrow; and a second packer wheel; wherein thesecond furrow opener and the second packer wheel are operativelyconnected in parallel alignment with the first furrow opener and thefirst packer wheel to form a gang of furrow openers and packer wheels,the actuator also being operatively connected to the second packer wheelto provide a bias force to both the first and second packer wheels.